Everyone loves to be encouraged. It lifts us up, inspires, and motivates us to keep moving forward.

The bible talks a lot about encouraging one another, and that God wants to encourage us. “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

To be a great encourager we need to believe the best of people even when they haven’t proven themselves yet.

The world is full of naysayers who are ready to tear down and pour out negatives, and unfortunately many people will listen. They have more faith in their ability to fail than to succeed, and have severe trouble in believing in themselves. They see difficulties at every turn and expect defeat and failure.

Yet God says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13), and that is what He wants us to believe and be speaking to others. “A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success” yet what do most people hear when they fail? Unfortunately they are usually words that are of no benefit or help.

I have been blessed with my husband Philip who is a fantastic encourager. No matter how many times he gets kicked or has faced difficulties he just keeps on getting back up.

He has learnt the art of encouraging himself in the Lord. He believes what God says about him more than what the world and all the critics do. He has learnt that in the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity to grow and learn. Because of this absolute belief that God is for him and not against him he is able to extend that faith and belief towards others.

He looks for the good and potential in people and blesses them with his enthusiasm, wisdom and trust, that what God has started in a person He will be faithful to complete.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6)

If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?…(Romans 8:31).

I have over the years learnt to be more like Philip. Instead of always seeing the impossibilities and problems I now look for solutions and the positives more than I used to. I have learnt through studying God’s word that God is really positive and an encourager too, and since we are asked to be imitators of God I need to be more like Him.(Ephesians 5:1-2)

The world needs more people like Philip, who give into people’s lives so that they can be all they were created to be. Most people don’t have someone who has faith in them.

Why not be that special person to someone in your world today,and bless them with the gift of encouragement?

Yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.( Psalm 121:2-3)

Prayer: Lord help me to be an instrument of encouragement and positivity to someone today. Help me to see how much you are for me. That you are looking for ways to bless me, because you believe in me. In Jesus Name Amen